Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Lu Yao was startled, grabbing Zhao Beichuan’s arm, instinctively feeling that she might have caused trouble.

“What should we do…”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

These beggars were clearly prepared, their eyes fixed on Lu Yao’s bag as if they knew there was money inside.

Lu Yao tightened her grip on the bag strap and hid behind Zhao Beichuan.

Suddenly, two men rushed forward and grabbed Zhao Beichuan, while someone from behind tried to snatch the bag from Lu Yao’s hand. Terrified, she screamed for help, “Let go! It’s a robbery!”

Zhao Beichuan broke free from the men in front of him, punched one to the ground, turned around, and pulled Lu Yao behind him, kicking the person trying to grab the bag far away.

The other men, seeing this, charged forward with vicious expressions. Unfortunately, they had picked the wrong target. Zhao Beichuan was no ordinary man; he was a strongman who could pull down a warhorse with his bare hands. Dealing with these scrawny beggars was a piece of cake.

He rolled up his sleeves and almost knocked out one person with each punch, leaving the opponents wailing and screaming!

Initially, these beggars thought they could overpower the pair with their numbers. Gradually, they realized something was off. After fighting for so long, the other side was unscathed, while several of their own were lying on the ground groaning in pain.

Frightened, they scattered like startled birds and animals.

Lu Yao clutched her bag, still in shock. Seeing that Zhao Beichuan was about to give chase, she quickly called him back. “Don’t chase them; let’s just go home!”

The millet was stolen, the flour was scattered all over the ground and unusable, and even the pork ribs were contaminated with dirt. Luckily, the books bought for Douzi were still intact.

Zhao Beichuan spat on the ground, picked up what was left, and the two hurriedly returned to their rented place.

As they entered the courtyard, they ran into Brother Huang, who was sweeping the yard.

“Out so early?” Seeing the two disheveled and pale-faced with their belongings in a mess, he couldn’t help but ask, “What happened?”

Lu Yao replied, “Brother Huang, don’t the authorities care about the beggars around here robbing people?”

Brother Huang was stunned. “You got robbed just now?”

“Some of our food was stolen.”

“Aiyo, you must have given them money before!”

“I just thought those kids were pitiful…”

“Next time, don’t get involved with those people! They’re not decent beggars. Last year, they even robbed a few scholars on the road, and one of them got his head smashed and missed the county exam.”

“Reporting to the authorities won’t help. These beggars are like rats in the gutter; they scatter cleanly as soon as the officers show up. You’d better avoid them next time!”

“Thank you for the advice.”

Once inside, Lu Yao took out the buns, and the two children eagerly devoured them.

Zhao Beichuan handed the stack of books to Douzi. “Finish eating and start studying. Your sister-in-law has invested heavily in you, so don’t disappoint her!”

Hearing this, Douzi quickly finished his bun in three bites, wiped his hands, and immediately began studying.

Lu Yao, worried he might feel pressured, reassured him, “Don’t listen to your brother’s nonsense. It’s okay if you don’t pass this time. You’re still young; there’ll be plenty of opportunities in the future. Just consider this as practice.”

“Mm.” Douzi nodded. He knew his sister-in-law was trying to comfort him, but he also had his own ambition. After learning from Grandpa Lin for so long, it would be truly embarrassing if he couldn’t even pass the preliminary exam.

Douzi studied diligently, so the others avoided disturbing him. Lu Yao took Xiaonian outside to teach her how to cook, while Zhao Beichuan took some money and went out again to buy grain.

This time, he deliberately walked through the same alley, hoping to encounter the beggars again, but he saw no sign of them.

In a flash, they had been staying in the county for seven or eight days, with only two days left until the county exam.

Today, Lu Yao forbade Douzi from studying. Over the past days, he had been waking up early and staying up late, his little face losing a lot of weight. If he used up all his energy preparing, his mind would be a mess on the exam day, affecting his performance.

“We’re not cooking lunch today. Sister-in-law is taking you out to eat at a restaurant!”

“A restaurant?” The Zhao siblings’ eyes widened.

“Yes, we’re going to eat out!”

“Awesome!” The two children were overjoyed. Though Xiaonian didn’t say it aloud, being cooped up at home these days had left her quite bored. She even regretted coming along. Had she known the county would be this dull, she would have stayed home and embroidered with Liuyue.

The family changed into clean clothes, took their bag, and headed to a restaurant in the county.

Coincidentally, it was market day, and many people from nearby towns had come, making the West Market lively and bustling.

There were people selling chickens, ducks, geese, livestock, furniture—almost everything.

There was even a tofu seller. Lu Yao went over to inquire about the price: four wen per jin. It seemed her tofu recipe had spread quickly!

Xiaonian and Douzi walked ahead, looking around and whispering, “This isn’t much different from our Xia Sanli.”

Lu Yao replied, “This side of the West Market is where the common folk live. Once you pass this street, it’ll be different.”

The two kids nodded. Suddenly, Zhao Beichuan recognized a small beggar by the roadside as one of those who had robbed them!

The beggar saw him too, turned pale, and bolted. Unfortunately, his legs were short, and he was caught by Zhao Beichuan in just a few steps, lifted like a chick.

“Please spare me, sir! Spare me!” The boy cried, tears and snot streaming down his face, making his already dirty face even filthier.

Zhao Beichuan frowned. “I gave you money out of kindness that day. Why did you still try to rob us?”

“I… I was forced to. I had no choice… If I didn’t, I’d get beaten!” To prove his point, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing scars crisscrossing his arms.

Lu Yao gasped. “Let him go. If you dare rob us again, you won’t get off so easily!”

The boy knelt and kowtowed. “Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!”

They continued walking, but Douzi couldn’t help looking back at the beggar. His mind seemed occupied as he quickened his pace to catch up with his brother and sister-in-law.

What started as a pleasant outing had turned somber due to the encounter with the beggar.

Zhao Beichuan patted Lu Yao on the shoulder. “Don’t overthink it. That beggar’s words can’t be trusted. Those scars might have come from being beaten while robbing others.”

Lu Yao nodded. She was just a small fry herself; how could she have the energy to worry about others? Pulling the two children along, she entered a restaurant called “Man Kou Xiang.”

The moment they walked in, the aroma of meat tantalized their taste buds. The restaurant wasn’t large, but it was packed with customers. Before coming, Lu Yao had asked the landlord’s wife about this place. The dishes here were said to be tasty and reasonably priced.

Inside, a fire was burning, making the room warm and cozy. A waiter came over to greet them.

“What would you like to order?”

“What’s your specialty?” Lu Yao asked.

“Our braised meat! Anyone who’s tried it always comes back for more!”

Lu Yao smiled and ordered a plate of braised meat, along with stir-fried wood ear mushrooms with eggs, deep-fried small fish, and two plates of meat dumplings.

The menu was so limited that Lu Yao even wondered if Chinese culinary traditions had been lost. Otherwise, where had all those delicious dishes gone?

The four of them found a small table. Xiaonian and Douzi curiously observed their surroundings, their eyes full of wonder.

Lu Yao also looked around, mentally calculating how much it would cost to open a small restaurant like this.

The dishes were served soon. The so-called braised meat was thinly sliced steamed pork laid on a bed of pickled vegetables. It somewhat resembled the Mei Cai Kou Rou from her past life but lacked flavor and still carried a bit of the pig’s gamy smell.

Zhao Beichuan picked up a piece to taste and whispered, “Not as good as yours.”

The two children nodded in agreement. Sister-in-law’s red-braised pork was way better than this braised meat!

Lu Yao chuckled. “Just eat. Don’t be picky when it comes to meat.”

The deep-fried fish wasn’t crispy enough, probably pre-fried and not reheated. The wood ear stir-fry was decent, while the dumplings, two plates combined, totaled less than twenty pieces.

When it came time to pay, the meal cost over 200 wen. Leaving the restaurant, Lu Yao exclaimed that they had been scammed. For that much money, she could have made a whole feast!

Still, running a restaurant was clearly profitable. A day’s business serving just a few tables could earn more than their morning at the breakfast stall.

They strolled the streets a bit longer and spotted a fabric shop, so Lu Yao took Xiaonian inside.

The fabric shop in town had a good variety but mainly in plain and dull colors. The county shop, however, offered an array of vibrant options that were dazzling to behold.

Xiaonian’s cheeks flushed with excitement as she looked around, unable to decide what to choose.

The shop assistant, seeing their ordinary clothes and rural demeanor, assumed they were from the countryside. Such people usually browsed but ended up buying the cheapest coarse cloth.

He scowled and pushed Xiaonian’s hand away with a measuring stick. “Hey, hey, hey! That’s silk; touching it leaves smudges.”

Xiaonian jumped back, startled, quickly withdrawing her hand. Lu Yao frowned. What kind of attitude was that?

“Pick a color you like, and sister-in-law will buy it for you.”

Xiao Nian shook her head awkwardly. “No need, let’s go back and buy it.”

Lu Yao knew Xiao Nian was afraid she would spend money, but since they were already here, she couldn’t let others look down on them.

“Bring down that bolt of fine pinkish-bean-colored cloth for us to see.”

The shop assistant, unwilling, brought over a stool, climbed up, and brought the cloth down. “This is fine cloth dyed in the south, forty wen per foot. Just take a look; don’t touch it. If it gets dirty, it won’t sell!”

Xiao Nian glanced at it and shook her head—it was too expensive.

Lu Yao continued, “Bring down the emerald green one over there too for us to see.”

The assistant’s tone turned unpleasant. “Are you buying or not? If not, stop wasting my time!”

Lu Yao sneered, “Is asking you to bring down two bolts of cloth too much for you? Are you the shopkeeper of this cloth store?”

The assistant fell silent, fuming, as he angrily brought the cloth down and tossed it onto the counter. “Quick, look at it.”

Lu Yao glanced at it and said, “This color looks old-fashioned and doesn’t suit our young lady at home. Bring down the bright red one next to it.”

“You! If you’re not buying, get out and stop wasting others’ time!”

Coincidentally, the shopkeeper heard the commotion and came out from the back. Frowning, he asked, “Si Zi, what are you saying?”

The assistant complained first, “These two country bumpkins have looked at several bolts of cloth without buying. Clearly, they’re here just to mess with me!”

The shopkeeper looked over, and Lu Yao fearlessly met his gaze. “We’ve only looked at three bolts of cloth, and that’s considered messing with you? Does your shop not allow customers to pick what they want to buy?”

“Si Zi.”

The assistant shrank his neck, muttering, “These two don’t look like they can afford fine cloth… even if they look at ten or eight bolts, so what?”

Lu Yao laughed coldly. “How do you know I can’t afford it? With your attitude toward customers, even if I were to buy, I wouldn’t buy from your shop!” With that, she pulled Xiao Nian and turned to leave.

“Please wait, dear customer!” The shopkeeper hurriedly chased after them.

“It was our assistant’s fault earlier. Si Zi, come here and apologize!”

Lu Yao turned around and saw the shopkeeper, fair-skinned and beardless, with a beauty mark on his earlobe. Surprisingly, the shopkeeper was also a ger. She stopped, pulling Xiao Nian with her.

The assistant, thoroughly embarrassed, walked over with a bowed head. “I… I apologize. I was short-sighted and hope you can be magnanimous and not hold it against me.”

“If this happens again, you won’t have a place in our shop anymore.”

The assistant, frightened, nodded repeatedly, wiping his sweat. He still relied on this job to support his family and couldn’t afford to lose it.

Lu Yao’s anger subsided a little. “Business thrives on harmony. I hope you, as the shopkeeper, will better discipline your staff.”

“Absolutely, absolutely! Is there any cloth you’d like to buy, dear customer?”

Lu Yao had indeed taken a liking to that pinkish-bean-colored fine cloth. With spring approaching, its vibrant hue would look great as a dress for Xiao Nian.

The two returned to the counter. Lu Yao said, “I’ll take a bolt of this pinkish-bean-colored fine cloth.”

Hearing that Lu Yao outright asked for a bolt, the assistant was so shocked his eyes widened.

The shopkeeper said, “This kind of fine cloth usually sells for two taels and eight hundred wen. Today, as an apology, you can have it for two taels and five hundred wen.”

The price wasn’t bad. Ordinary fine cloth in town usually cost two taels and six hundred wen. Lu Yao directly paid and settled the account.

The shopkeeper quickly wrapped up the cloth, and the two left carrying it.

Zhao Beichuan said, “Why did it take you so long? I was about to go in and find you.”

“Don’t mention it, Big Brother. We just encountered an incredibly rude shop assistant inside!” Xiao Nian vividly recounted what had happened, leaving Zhao Beichuan dumbfounded.

Lu Yao handed the cloth to Zhao Beichuan. “Though we suffered a bit of frustration, it wasn’t for nothing. This bolt of fine cloth was discounted by three hundred wen.”

Xiao Nian looked pained. “It’s still too expensive. This color doesn’t suit Big Brother or Xiao Dou.”

“It wasn’t bought for them. It’s for you to make some clothes for yourself. I thought the ones you made for Xiao Jinzi last time were great. This time, try making a few pieces for yourself.”

Xiao Nian’s face flushed with excitement. “Really?” Then she immediately shook her head. “No, this cloth is too good. I’m afraid I’ll ruin it.”

“I’ll be here to help cut the patterns for you. You can sew them yourself.”

“Okay!”

Tomorrow is the county examination. Lu Yao hurried to prepare the necessary items for Xiao Dou.

First, padded clothes, trousers, and shoes were essential. The county exam was more relaxed compared to the provincial or metropolitan exams, which required single-layer clothing to prevent hidden cheats.

The test basket was packed with a water pouch, food, and writing tools.

The exam lasted three days, with an initial test, a retest, and a final evaluation. Each day began at the third quarter of the mao hour and ended at the end of the wei hour in the afternoon.

The county exam mainly consisted of text completion and interpretation. In text completion, candidates filled in missing phrases from a randomly selected passage, much like modern cloze tests. Interpretation required simple explanations of texts. As long as candidates were familiar with the classics and annotations, they could pass.

Xiao Dou had already memorized the Four Books and Five Classics thoroughly. As long as he didn’t underperform, he had an eighty percent chance of passing. The remaining twenty percent depended on fate and his mindset.

Extreme weather could hinder even adults, let alone young children. Lu Yao prayed for good weather during the exams, hoping it wouldn’t snow.

On the fifth day of the second month, Lu Yao and Zhao Beichuan rose early, kneading dough and cooking noodles with eggs.

At the first quarter of the yin hour, Xiao Dou and Xiao Nian woke to the smell of food, shivering as they dressed in padded clothes.

“Quick, eat. Don’t be late for the exam.”

“Okay!”

The steaming noodles warmed their bodies. After a final check of the test basket, Lu Yao locked the door, and the family of four headed to the county office.

The exam venue, a simple examination shed beside the county office, faced south and was surrounded by a wooden fence.

By the time they arrived, the area was crowded. Around three hundred people had come to take the exam that day, ranging in age from the elderly to twelve- or thirteen-year-olds. Each looked hopeful, dreaming of making the list.

Holding Xiao Dou’s hand, Lu Yao was sweating nervously. “Don’t be anxious when you go in. The more nervous you are, the more likely you’ll forget things. Answer the questions you know first and leave the harder ones for last.”

Xiao Nian straightened her brother’s collar. “Do well, and we’ll wait for you outside.”

When the official called for Qiushui Town, Zhao Beichuan patted Xiao Dou on the shoulder. “Go on, and listen to your sister. If you don’t pass, Big Brother won’t blame you.”

At this moment, the family’s hopes rested on this young sapling. Xiao Dou’s face tensed as he nodded solemnly, carrying his test basket and walking into the crowd of adults.

Before entering, candidates underwent a search to prevent cheating.

Officials meticulously inspected the test baskets and searched the candidates’ clothing, shoes, socks, and even their hair—a precaution after someone was caught hiding notes in their hair last year.

When it was Xiao Dou’s turn, the official, seeing the child barely reaching his chest, widened his eyes and carefully checked the name list. Confirming the examinee was indeed seven years old, he exclaimed, “Well, I’ll be! This is an eye-opener!”

Since the restoration of the imperial examination in the third year of Xuanwu, this was the first time a child under ten participated in the county exam in Pingyang County, naturally sparking astonishment.

News quickly reached the county magistrate, who stroked his beard and said, “When the county exam ends, I must have a good look at this child’s test paper.”

宣武三年 (Third Year of Xuanwu Era) – A specific historical era, indicating the timeline when the imperial examinations were restored.